Daily Thunder.com

Matt Moore of PBT on Ibaka’s extension: “The Thunder made the right call, and it’s one that reflects their approach as an organization. Now, there’s every reason to think that keeping Harden is nowhere near off the table. It is still very much possible that Harden remains a Thunder, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Presti quietly announced it on Monday on his way to his honeymoon. But even if this move lead them to terminate their relationship with Harden in the short and long-term, it would be the right one.”

Beckley Mason of ESPN.com: “For those NBA players than can pretty much choose where they play, answering “where do you I want to play?” involves a complex calculus. They have to weigh the impact of the local lifestyle with workplace conditions, family considerations, real estate, etc, etc. But the Thunder, like the Spurs before them, are proving that a first-class organization and teammates you truly like can go a long way to overcoming other shortcomings. Presti’s crew won this negotiation over the course of years, not weeks, by building an club that values and develops personnel and makes being in Oklahoma City seem fun to exceptionally wealthy young men. This contract is an organizational, rather than personal achievement. If there is a “Thunder Model,” that’s it.” Keep Reading…

Bruce Bowen on the West: “There’s a team out West called the Oklahoma City Thunder. Those young boys, it seems like each and every year they get better… I don’t think you can rule them out with their starters, their bench. You look at Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka down low, I think they will be aggressive and challenge Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol. Then you look at James Harden coming off the bench, who’s going to matchup with him? It’s not even a question with Steve Nash and Russell Westbrook. So now it leaves Kobe and Kevin Durant…. I’m not sold on this new Lakers team because it takes time to gel.”

Kurt Helin of PBT on the West: “Really, we’re not going to be able to judge the Lakers vs. Thunder until what we see the Lakers are playing like in March. Remember, it took the Heat more than a season to win with their superstars and the idea it could take a couple years for the Lakers is very possible (even if they get by the Thunder there will be the Heat to contend with). But we should speculate about it now.” Keep Reading…

Jonathan Tjarks of Real GM on Dwight Howard and the Lakers: “Looming down the road are potential playoffs showdowns with the NBA’s best scorer (Kevin Durant) as well as its best all-around player in LeBron. No one can do everything — passing, shooting, scoring, rebounding and defense — as well as LeBron, but Los Angeles has players who can match him in each category. To return to the analogy, even Optimus Prime struggled to do much to stop the assembled power of Devastator.”

Rob Mahoney of Bleacher Report: “The pressure on the Thunder is now very tangible, and yet with the Heat looming and the Lakers reloaded, this particularly charismatic and damn effective group of up-and-comers faces its stiffest competition for the title yet. There’s no real rush for their championship aspirations (this core has the luxury of biding its time), but it’s worth wondering what might come to pass should the Thunder’s eventual and assumed title be delayed substantially by their formidable competition. The Lakers’ window may be relatively brief, but the Heat aren’t going anywhere, the Bulls will be contenders again in due time, and Oklahoma City has concerns of their own in terms of balancing the finances of keeping both James Harden and Serge Ibaka.” Keep Reading…